The Range: The Tucson Weekly's Daily Dispatch

PBS-HD 6 Starts Membership Drive This Weekend

Every Friday, the Weekly's Senior Writer, Jim Nintzel, hosts Arizona Illustrated's Political Roundable, airing at 6:30 p.m. on KUAT Channel 6. (The program repeats on Saturday at 12:30 a.m.) We're partial to that show of course, but there are plenty of additional great shows on our local PBS station.

Support public television during their membership drive, which runs from June 2 through June 10. To kick it off, a series of music specials will air. Read on and visit www.azpm.org for more information.

“Big Band Vocalists” – June 2nd at 7 p.m. (with encores)

Doris Day

This special looks back at the “crooners” and “canaries” of the 1940s, featuring the greatest vocalists of the period when they started their careers performing with orchestras and dance bands. Among the legendary artists and timeless hits included in the rare, vintage footage are Louis Armstrong, Perry Como, Doris Day, Helen Forrest with the Harry James Orchestra, Peggy Lee with the Benny Goodman Orchestra, Jo Stafford and the Pied Pipers with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, and many more favorites from the World War II era. Nick Clooney and Peter Marshall host.

"British Beat” – June 2nd at 9 p.m. (with encores)

Petula Clark

This MY MUSIC special travels to London and around the UK to the places where the British Beat was born. The program features a mix of rare archival full-length performance films mixed with live performances from the Zombies, Wayne Fontana, Eric Burdon and the Animals, Gerry and the Pacemakers and many more — including sets from Chad and Jeremy and Peter Noone. Petula Clark hosts.

Il Divo– June 3rd at 6:30 p.m. (with encores)

Il Divo

The operatic pop vocal group Il Divo — Spanish baritone Carlos Marín, Swiss tenor Urs Bühler, American tenor David Miller and French pop singer Sébastien Izambard — has garnered more than 50 gold and platinum awards in 33 countries. In this concert at the beautiful London Coliseum, home of the English National Opera, the four men unveil songs from their new CD, Wicked Game, including the sensational “Dov’è l’amore.”

Tony Bennett: Duets II – June 3rd at 8:30 p.m. (with encores)

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga

At age 85, the legendary Tony Bennett is the oldest person to have reached the number one position on Billboard's Hot 200 chart with the release of another album of duets — which, amazingly enough, also marks Bennett's first number one album. Yet another career triumph, Duets II teams Bennett with a diverse roster of contemporary stars including Queen Latifah, Aretha Franklin, Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow, Andrea Bocelli, and Michael Buble, performing more classics from the Great American Songbook, including "Body and Soul," "The Lady is a Tramp," "On the Sunny Side of the Street," "Speak Low," and "Stranger in Paradise.”

Andrea Bocelli Live in Central Park - Sunday, June 10th at 8 p.m.

Andrea Bocelli

Beloved tenor Andrea Bocelli performs a free concert on Central Park's Great Lawn, with the New York Philharmonic conducted by its music director Alan Gilbert. Joining Bocelli on stage on this memorable night are Céline Dion, Tony Bennett, Chris Botti and David Foster. Sopranos Ana María Martínez and Pretty Yende, violinist Nicola Benedetti, bass baritone Bryn Terfel and flutist Andrea Griminelli are also part of the spectacular evening.